Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Cairngorms National Park and Monadhliath. Also includes the Ben Alder area hills between Loch Ericht and Loch Laggan.
Wednesday's Forecast
Moderate breeze, locally gusty
A noticeable breeze, feeling cool where exposed on tops. Locally may be gusty, but unlikely to affect walking progress. 15-25mph.
Sunshine and showers
A good amount of dry and bright weather, but scattered bursts of rain, some may be locally heavy.
Chilly
Air temperature typically 0 to 5C on higher summits. Feeling distinctly chilly on tops when stationary or where exposed to wind. Take appropriate layers.
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Moderate breeze, locally gusty
A noticeable breeze, feeling cool where exposed on tops. Locally may be gusty, but unlikely to affect walking progress. 15-25mph.
Sunshine and showers
A good amount of dry and bright weather, but scattered bursts of rain, some may be locally heavy.
Chilly
Air temperature typically 0 to 5C on higher summits. Feeling distinctly chilly on tops when stationary or where exposed to wind. Take appropriate layers.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Wednesday 16th September 2026
Last updated
Tue 15th Sep 26 at
4:11PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Northwesterly wind pushes chilly air and showers into Scotland, milder but showery in Wales and west England. Wind lessens and showers increasingly scattering, a few light showery clusters here and there (total rainfall small). Rain and wind into west Scotland later, spreading widely overnight.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Early showers break for frequent sun; wind strengthens later
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northwesterly 20-30mph, gusty over tops, soon lessening and shifting westerly 15-20mph, perhaps less for a time. Shifting southwesterly, restrengthening, finishing 30-40mph, further strengthening into night.
Effect of the wind on you?
A blustery start with some buffeting in exposure, soon easing to fairly small effects. Blustery again later, walking becomes strenuous into evening and further deteriorates.
How Wet?
Showers clear, then late rain
Early showers stream into the Cairngorms from the north, fading for dry conditions well into the day. As evening approaches, patchy rain returns from the west, increasingly frequent into night.
Cloud on the hills?
Breaking to tops into the day, some clear summits
High Cairngorms begin shrouded, varied banks to middle heights, most extensive northern slopes with some mist into glens. Cloud will lift and break up, just passing patches over highest Cairngorms well into the day. Returning into evening, filling in overnight.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
Rising to 70%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Soon mostly sunny, high cloud thickening from the west late in the day. Very good visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
4C rising to 6C, or 7C easternmost Cairngorms. Staying elevated and rising slightly more into night. Feeling like 0 to -5C in strongest direct wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Thursday 17th September 2026
Last updated
Tue 15th Sep 26 at
4:11PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
West-southwesterly 30-45mph, trending stronger with time, sustained 50mph high tops and gusty.
Effect of the wind on you?
Strenuous walking in exposure, later becoming arduous with considerable buffeting and significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Showers
Showers push onto hills west of the A9 from dawn, more scattered east with dry windows to start, but will become more frequent and increasingly push east for the rest of the day; heavy falls forming, risk of hail.
Cloud on the hills?
Varied on high terrain, later filling in
Banks above 800-900m in the morning, lowering somewhat in showers; well-broken east Cairngorms, summit breaks. Banks over high terrain increasingly frequent, may fill in above 800-900m; east of Glenmore, hills clear to 1000m well into the day.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
60% lowering to 20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patchy sun, extended windows to the east, trending cloudier with time. Very good visibility out of cloud and rain, generally deteriorating.
How Cold? (at 900m)
5C, may rise a degree east but will reduce again in showers. Feeling like -5 to -7C in strongest wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Friday 18th September 2026
Last updated
Tue 15th Sep 26 at
4:11PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly shifting southwesterly 35-45mph, briefly on the lighter side but restrengthening, gusting 50-55mph later.
Effect of the wind on you?
Strenuous on high tops all day, more arduous later with buffeting affecting balance and considerable wind chill.
How Wet?
Increasingly rainy through afternoon
A few showers drift into Monadhliath/Drumochter early in the day, otherwise largely dry until later afternoon when a band of patchy rain approaches from the west, some extended falls forming later.
Cloud on the hills?
Breaks for a time, filling in through afternoon
Varied patches of cloud in the morning, mostly near and west of the A9, lifting to largely above 1000m, breaks off Cairngorm summits too. A layer of cloud will lower onto the Cairngorms through afternoon, increasingly filling in, fairly extensively above 900m, lower Drumochter.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
50%, lowering to 20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patchy sunshine, trending overcast and later dull. Windows of good visibility, a little haze, deteriorating later.
How Cold? (at 900m)
4 or 5C, rising to 7C, and rising slightly further into night. Feeling below 0C in direct wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
Showers and strong westerly wind prevails from Thursday into the weekend - areas of low pressure passing north of Scotland with frontal systems bringing bands of rain, followed by showers, wettest over western mountains in Scotland. Periods of gale-force winds over higher terrain, cool temperatures with significant wind chill, particularly in the north where temperatures will occasionally approach freezing point on high Scottish tops. Showers generally more scattered in England and Wales, most showers in the west; bright spells too, but bands of rain and low cloud will pass these areas. Mild temperatures, at times warm south Pennines and Wales. Milder, more settled weather is indicated next week, though sometimes breezy in Scotland, spells of rain in the west.